Aster plant named ‘Blue Diamond’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Aster  plant named ‘Blue Diamond’ characterized by its uniform, upright and strong flowering stems; uniform and freely flowering habit; and decorative-type inflorescences with violet-colored ray florets.

Botanical designation: Aster hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Blue Diamond’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Asterplant, botanically known as Aster hybrida and hereinafter referred to bythe name ‘Blue Diamond’.

The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower-typeAster cultivars with uniform plant growth habit, strong flowering stems,large decorative inflorescences and attractive ray floret colors.

The new Aster originated from a cross-pollination in July, 2002 in TerAar, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Aster hybridaidentified as code number Nvlgr 99123, not patented, as the female, orseed, parent with a proprietary selection of Aster hybrida identified ascode number Nvlgr 99240, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent.The new Aster was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled environment in Ter Aar, The Netherlands in July, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Aster by vegetative cuttings was firstconducted in Ter Aar, The Netherlands in August, 2003. Asexualreproduction by cuttings has shown that the unique features of this newAster are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Blue Diamond have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Blue Diamond’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Blue Diamond’ as a new and distinct cutflower Aster cultivar:

-   -   1. Uniform, upright and strong flowering stems.    -   2. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   3. Decorative-type inflorescences with violet-colored ray        florets.

Plants of the new Aster differ from plants of the parent selections inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aster have larger inflorescences than        plants of the parent selections.    -   2. Plants of the new Aster and the parent selections differ in        ray floret coloration.    -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Aster have more ray        florets than inflorescences of plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Aster can be compared to plants of the Aster cultivarMilka, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,602. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Ter Aar, The Netherlands, plants of the newAster differed from plants of the cultivar Milka in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aster had thicker flowering stems than        plants of the cultivar Milka.    -   2. Plants of the new Aster had larger inflorescences than plants        of the cultivar Milka.    -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Aster had more ray        florets than inflorescences of plants of the cultivar Milka.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Aster. These photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Aster.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Blue Diamond’.

The photographs on the second sheet is a close-up view of the upperportion of a typical flowering stem of ‘Blue Diamond’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a typicalinflorescence of ‘Blue Diamond’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown from September to April in Ter Aar,The Netherlands in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse and underconditions and practices which approximate those generally used incommercial container Aster production. During the production of theplants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 35° C. and nighttemperatures ranged from 12° C. to 18° C. Plants used in the photographsand for the description were about eight months old. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Aster hybrida cultivar Blue Diamond.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Aster            hybrida identified as code number Nvlgr 99123, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Aster            hybrida identified as code number Nvlgr 99240, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots, summer.—About 16 to 19            days at temperatures of about 22° C.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots, winter.—About 21 to 26            days at temperatures of about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Moderately thick, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut flower Aster.            Upright plant habit; narrow inverted triangle with lateral            branches somewhat outwardly spreading. Strong and freely            branching growth habit with about twelve primary lateral            branches. Moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 100 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 42 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 19.2 cm. Diameter: About            2 mm. Internode length: About 2.9 cm. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 143A; longitudinal            stripes, 144B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 12.7 cm.        -   Width.—About 2 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Finely serrate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Developing foliage, lower surface: Close to 137A to 137B.            Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Between 137A and            147A; venation, 144A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface:            Close to 137B; venation, between 143B and 144A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with            oblanceolate-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on            terminals above and beyond the foliage. Disk and ray florets            arranged acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescence not            fragrant.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plants flower            continuously from late September to late October in The            Netherlands. Inflorescences not persistent. Inflorescences            last about three weeks on the plant and about two weeks as a            cut flower.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering, about 240            inflorescences develop per plant.        -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm            to 1.8 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 137A.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 4.1 cm. Depth (height):            About 1.9 cm. Diameter of disc: Disc florets have not been            observed. Receptacle height: About 9 mm. Receptacle            diameter: About 1.9 cm.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 3.5 mm.            Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Retuse to praemorse. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, satiny. Orientation: Initially            upright, then about 90° from vertical or perpendicular to            peduncle. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 220            arranged in about eight whorls. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to N88C. When opening, lower surface: Close            to 85C; towards the base, 85D. Fully opened, upper surface:            Close to N88C; color becoming closer to N88D with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 85C;            towards the base, 85D.        -   Phyllaries.—Number of phyllaries per inflorescence: About 50            arranged in about four whorls. Length: About 6 mm. Width:            About 2 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            leathery. Color, upper surface: Between 137A and 147A.            Color, lower surface: Close to 137A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 3.9 cm. Length,            fourth peduncle: About 8.1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Angle:            About 30° from vertical. Strength: Strong, flexible.            Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to 143A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Not observed. Gynoecium:            Pistil length: About 7 mm. Stigma shape: Bi-parted. Stigma            color: Close to 150D. Style length: About 6 mm. Style color:            Close to 157D. Ovary color: Close to 157D.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Asters has not been observed on plants grown under commercial    conditions.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Aster have been observed to    tolerate temperatures ranging from about −5° C. to about 35° C.

1. A new and distinct Aster plant named ‘Blue Diamond’ as illustratedand described.